The Riigikogu passed with 52 votes in favour the Education Allowances and Student Loans Bill (94 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act stipulates the bases, conditions and procedure for education allowances and student loans, in order to ensure access to the higher education and motivate students acquiring vocational secondary education and higher education on the basis of a secondary education to study full-time and successfully and to go through curriculum in nominal time. The Act enters into force on September 1, 2003, §§ 15-24, subsection 28(1) and §§ 29-32 enter into force on September 1, 2004. 28 members of the Riigikogu voted against the Act, nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 84 votes in favour the State Budget of 2003 Act Amendment Act (95 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The amendments concern allocations for social welfare benefits, grants, travel-fare concessions, education allowances and student loans within the area of government of the Ministry of Education and Research and Ministry of Finance. Nobody voted against the Act, one member of the Riigikogu abstained.

The Riigikogu passed with 51 votes in favour the Social Welfare Act Amendment Act (67 SE), initiated by the Social Affairs Committee. The aim of the Act is to eliminate the constitutional variance, thereby systematising the conditions for the grant and payment of subsistence benefits.  Pursuant to the amendment, payment of the subsistence benefits to the persons and families in need is better regulated.  34 members of the Riigikogu voted against the Act, nobody abstained.

The Riigikogu Press Service